NFC East Preview: Philadelphia Eagles

by Jim Schmiedeberg on Jul 8, 2008 7:00 AM EDT in New York Giants News

Today we take a look at the Philadelphia Eagles:

Key Additions:

LB Rocky Boiman: UFA Colts; 1 yr, terms unknown.RB Lorenzo Booker (trade Dolphins).

DE Chris Clemons: UFA Raiders; $13.585M/5 yrs, $4M SB; 2008 cap: $1.5M.

DT Dan Klecko: UFA Colts; terms unknown.

FB Luke Lawton (trade Colts).

CB Asante Samuel: UFA Patriots; $59.475M/6 yrs, $6M SB/$7M RB 08-09; 2008 cap: $9.145M.

TE Kris Wilson: UFA Chiefs; 3 yrs, terms unknown.

Key Losses:

CB William James: UFA Bills; 2 yrs, terms unknown.

DE Jevon Kearse (released).

DT LaJuan Ramsey (released).

DT Ian Scott: UFA Panthers; terms unknown.

LB Takeo Spikes (released/failed physical).

FB Thomas Tapeh: UFA Vikings; $6M/5 yrs, $1.2M guaranteed.

The questions for the Eagles going into Training Camp 2008:

Can Donovan McNabb stay healthy? He's battling shoulder issues, if that carries over into the season, the Eagles are cooked.

Will Lito Sheppard show up, and will he be a "Happy Camper"? He held out of mini-camp, and the Eagles can ill-afford to be short a talented cornerback in the NFC East.

Will prized free-agent cornerback Asante Samuel and speedy rookie receiver DeSean Jackson lag because of the time they missed while nursing hamstring injuries?

Jim's Take:

I see the Eagles as a team in transition. We heard through most of last year the QB was going to be traded, but here he is, back for another year. I think the Eagles will struggle to keep up in a tough NFC East, but they've proved me wrong many times before. I never count this team out, Andy Reid always seems to find a way to win.

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my feelings

translated from german are: the eagles the

by kendynamo on Jul 8, 2008 9:58 AM EDT reply actions

i'm afraid to say anything

because my comments may be mistaken for “jealously” like they were re: the cowboys.

but really i think the Eagles are going to bounce back and contend for the division title. they really rebounded in the last few weeks of last season and became the team that everyone was expecting them to be – it was just too little, too late. if there’s one knock on them, they should’ve gotten rid of Lito Sheppared already because i don’t think he can co-exist with Asante Samuel. McNabb will be fine, the defense will still cause problems, Andy Reid will still be a good coach, and David Akers will still be an asshole who makes every clutch kick (except for 57-yarders against the wind).

i think Philly will win 10+ games, which is tough because by process of elimination -Cowboys 12 wins, Eagles 10+ wins, Giants 10+ wins – i’m going to have to pick the Redskins to go like 2-14, which I really don’t think will happen.

by SBakerTheTouchdownMaker on Jul 8, 2008 11:09 AM EDT reply actions

how long until

the Eagles fans start making their way over here now?

I am torn on the Eagles. I still have a ton of respect for Mcnabb and Dawkins, both of whom are great competitors. Dawkins is one of those guys that you hate when he plays for your rival but who you’d love to death if he was on your team (similar to Strahan in fact), but I think he is nearing the end of the line. And McNabb is one awkward tackle away from leaving the offense in Kevin Kolb’s hands. Asante Samuel will help the defense, but they are still nowhere near as talented as they were during the 4-year run the Eagles had in the early part of this decade. Ultimately, I think their fate rests in McNabb’s hands. He stays healthy, they probably win 10+ games. He gets hurt early, they could be a 6-10 team. That, and they should probably try to keep Winston Justice off the field…

by cjmulrain on Jul 8, 2008 4:27 PM EDT reply actions

Ugh, I HATE B Dawkins....

He’s a complete jerk and a headhunter. Remember the helmet-to-helmet hit when he knocked I Hilliard out of the game circa 2001? Ever since that hit, I hated that clown.

by Cody K on Jul 8, 2008 4:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Their most significant need

which they have not addressed is to have a competent receiving corps. TO was good for a short time but he was too easy to key on. You have to have competent secondary receivers which the Eagles haven’t given McNabb.

by TerraByte on Jul 8, 2008 6:56 PM EDT reply actions

I don't know if I agree

that TO was too easy to key on: he probably would have been the league MVP is he hadn’t gotten hurt that year. He was ridiculously good. If he was as good now as he was that year, the Cowboys would have won the Super Bowl last year.

That said, I definitely agree with you that the Eagles haven’t addressed the receiving corps since he left. It’s strange, for a team that loves to pass as much as they do, they really don’t make much of an effort to bring in good receivers, either through FA or the draft.

by cjmulrain on Jul 8, 2008 10:33 PM EDT up reply actions

T.O.

As big an idiot as he is, I agree that the last year he played with the Eagles he was terrific. He may have the absolute perfect body for wide receiver.

He’s still a top notch receiver and except for the dropped balls and selfish play would be considered one of the greatest. In our playoff game we had a lot of single coverage on him which I was sure at the time was a mistake, but the pass rush and the fact that he has lost a step or two saved us.

by giant fan since 57 on Jul 9, 2008 6:33 AM EDT reply actions